USA/LTU - USA scoop Lithuania

AUCKLAND (FIBA U19 World Championship) - The athleticism of Tyshawn Taylor has driven the USA to a thrilling 76-69 win over Lithuania to maintain their unbeaten record at the FIBA U19 World Championships and end the Lithuanians’ hopes of reaching the quarter finals.

Taylor scored three acrobatic scoop shots in the final four minutes to give the US the margin they required.

He finished with 13 points and 4 assists and received support from Klay Thompson (10 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists), Darius Miller (10 points) and John Shurna (9) in a once again even spread for the Americans.

The Lithuanians looked the best team in the first quarter, leading 13-7 with 3:48 to play. But a number of easy missed opportunities and some impressive transition play from the USA saw them lead 18-16 at quarter time.

The roles were reversed in the second period, with only the Europeans strong rebounding and superbly executed pick and rolls keeping them within striking distance. An 8-2 run to finish the half saw scores tied up at 36-36 at the long break.

Lithuania had their chances to pull away in the third quarter, leading 46-41 on a Dovydas Redikas three pointer. But Shurna turned the game in the USA’s favour with 7 points in the last four minutes to give his team a 55-51 advantage at the last break.

Tautvydas Slezas stood tall in the last quarter, scoring 8 of his 21 points to keep Lithuania in touch, but Taylor’s heroics and some steady free throw shooting from Ashton Gibbs secured the USA’s 7-point margin.

For Lithuania, Donatas Montiejunas (12 points) and Redikas (11 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists) joined Slezas in double figures. Slezas also secured 12 rebounds as Lithuania won the rebound count 45-31.

Montiejunas struggled against the smaller US defenders as he coughed up 9 of his team’s 23 turnovers. The USA had only 8.

Lithuania now face Kazakhstan at 9:00am on Friday in the first of two classification games. The USA will play North American rivals Canada at 8:30pm in a knockout quarter final.


Tyshawn Taylor, USA :

“We started kind of slow, and we knew they were going to play hard because this was their game. If they had beaten us they would still be in the tournament.

I played with a kind of chip on my shoulder because I didn’t play so good yesterday, so I just wanted to come out here and play a good game.

Their guys are big, they have a 6’11 (211cm) guy that can take you off the dribble (Montiejunas), so it was kind of weird playing against those guys and they ran some plays that we aren’t used to.

We have great players on this team and we made plays down the stretch.”

FIBA